Why We Need Each Other Now More Than Ever

Christian Ethics in the Age of Coronavirus

Photo by Perry Grone on Unsplash

The world’s changed dramatically, perhaps indefinitely. Similarly to how things were different after 9/11 or after the Great Recession of 2008, I suspect that life after the Coronavirus will always be a little different.

I don’t mean that in an end-of-the-world apocalyptic sort of way. I don’t think the world’s ending. And I think — I hope and pray anyway — that most of us will come through this global pandemic.

Tragically, there’s already been and will continue to be loss of life. I grieve for those families. But the scientists and health experts working on this seem to be assuring us that while some people are at significantly greater risk of serious illness, even death, the majority of us are not.

Nevertheless, as Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said earlier this week, we should all be prepared for things to get worse before they get better. The sober truth is, things might get a lot worst before they get better.

Are we ready?

Am I?

Are you?

Already we’re living in unprecedented times. Entire countries, like Italy, Spain, and others have been on lockdown. National borders have been closed. Businesses have been shut down. People are urged to stay at home except for essential travel to get food or healthcare. And this is happening all over the world.

It’s quite surreal. Almost like a movie (think Contagion or Outbreak), except this is really happening.

States within the U.S. are now imposing different lockdown measures. (See Wall-Street Journal article here). My own small mid-western city has issued a travel restriction. We’re only supposed to be out and about to go to work or to get groceries, food, medicine, or healthcare.

Thankfully, my wife is still working from home, teaching her college courses online. I’m also still gainfully employed at an auto manufacturer supplier. But I realize that all of that can change. Who knows what might happen? And I also realize that many people are not as fortunate as we have…